New Year's Resolutions - Part 2

I really like making New Year's resolutions. I enjoy the self examination. I like envisioning the newer, better, shinier me. So what if I hardly ever keep them past March. Every little bit of self improvement helps, right? You already know about my plan to read more books. Here are a couple of other things that I would like to accomplish.

1. I resolve to watch less TV. This one is going to be a hard one for me. The TV is my friend. But it does get in the way of more meaningful activities (like reading). So, I am going to put some serious limits on how much TV I watch.

2. I resolve to dress more professionally. My job is such that I can wear jeans and a t-shirt everyday if I want to. And until now, I have taken full advantage of that perk (as do most of my co-workers). However, now that I am beginning to think about the next stage of my career, I think that I need to upgrade my wardrobe a little bit. I have already started to make room in my closet (I have a big bag of clothes ready to be dropped off at Goodwill). Now all I have to do is find the change to buy some new clothes. I don't know. Maybe this is just a phase. But I'm pretty sure that I can find some sort of a middle ground between being comfortable, professional, and resistant to mouse guts. 

3. I resolve to be more physically active. I know. Everybody has this on their list. But it really is something that I would like to do. On a regular basis. In fact, I would actually like to find a way to get some of my girlfriends in on the action. I'm convinced that if we could come up with something fun and heart healthy, we could all really commit to following through. Any suggestions?

Ok, I probably have a few more resolutions on my list. However, in an effort to protect my fragile ego, I just can't bring myself to share the things that I really need to work on. Hopefully, I'll make good on those unspoken resolutions and you'll notice without me having to tell you what they are... 

Happy self-examining. Happy following through. Good night and good luck.

Science Friday - Pickle Edition

Harper has a new favorite food. Pickles! A girl after my own heart. 

In the spirit of Science Friday, here are some things you may or may not have known about pickles.

• Cucumber pickle factories commonly ferment cucumbers in large outdoor vats of salt brine. These vats usually have no cover, and are wide open to falling bird droppings, insects, and other airborne objects. However, according to Jim Cook, a food scientist with the Minnesota-based pickle manufacturer Gedney, tanks are left open for an important reason: The sun’s ultraviolet and infrared rays prevent yeast and mold growth on the brine surface—potentially a much more serious problem than bird droppings. 

• Many people consider pickle brine a useful commodity. It’s been used as a soup stock, a hangover remedy, a drink, and - for many eastern European women - a cosmetic.

• Pickles played an important role in Colombus’s discovery of America in 1492. Around the time of Colombus, many transoceanic voyages were thwarted because crews suffered from scurvy, a disease caused by lack of vitamin C. Colombus’s ship stocker, a man named Amerigo Vespucci (who was a pickle merchant turned explorer), stored ample quantities of vitamin C-rich pickles on the Niña, Pinta, and Santa Maria, helping to prevent scurvy outbreaks on the historic voyage across the Atlantic. 
  

Harper's First Christmas -- Part 2

Harper got lots of good loot, but I think that this thing is her favorite (next to Flo The Flamingo, that is).

Rob and I were pretty conservative with what we got Harper this year. We knew that she was going to be inundated with presents from her fan club. I did however, get her one special gift. I have wanted to get her a pair of these since I found out that I was pregnant. Rob and I both have a pair, so it is only right that she have a pair too. 

Harper's First Christmas

Just when Christmas was starting to lose some of it's magic, Harper came along and made it fun again. She had a fantastic first Christmas. Stories, videos, and more pictures will follow. For now, here are a few of my favorites. 

Christmas Eve for Twelve-Year-Olds

It's nights like tonight that convince me that Rob and I are just pretending to be adults. It started out innocent enough. We, along with my parents and several of their neighbors, attended a candlelight Christmas Eve service at a rather conservative Presbyterian church. Near the end of the service, the congregation sang the carol "What Child Is This?". When we got to the second verse, I started to crack a smile. Then I saw that Rob was also struggling to keep a straight face and I almost lost it. Yes. We are 12 years old.  

1.What child is this who, laid to rest,

on Mary's lap is sleeping?

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,

while shepherds watch are keeping?

Refrain:

This, this is Christ the King,

whom shepherds guard and angels sing;

haste, haste to bring him laud,

the babe, the son of Mary.

2.Why lies he in such mean estate

where ox and ass are feeding?

Good Christians, fear, for sinners here

the silent Word is pleading.

Refrain

New Friend

Harper made a new friend.

Weekend Update

What a busy weekend. Here's the rundown.

Friday:

1. Learned how to do microsurgery on the carotid artery of a mouse. 

2. Had a board game night with some good friends. I didn't win, but I should have.

Saturday:

1. Laundry. Lots and lots of laundry.

   

2. Attended a wonderful Christmas party.

Sunday:

1. Packing. Lots and lots of packing. 

2. Saw my neighbor's bare butt. I opened my front door and saw him getting his morning paper without any pants on. Not only was he missing pants, he also didn't have any underware on. In fact, the only thing he did have on was a t-shirt. When I opened my door, it startled him and he dove for his door. Seriously! Who does that? How long does it take to put on a pair of pants? I'm sure he's embarrassed (no pun intended), but I hope he learned his lesson. 

   

3. Road trip to Florida to spend Christmas with my parents. The cat puked again although this time I was able to aim her into the litter box. Some day I will remember to pick her food up the night before we leave.